Lafarge Backs Contest For Chinese Architects

Lafarge has partnered with Architecture Studio to launch a contest dedicated to Chinese architects

Lafarge has partnered with Architecture Studio to launch a contest dedicated to Chinese architects. This will enable three young winners to present their work at the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Architecture Studio launched the competition to promote Chinese architecture and its young talents in the West. The winning projects will go on show at Ca'Asi, Architecture Studio's art collective in Venice.

The competition drew 150 entries. The judges selected 11 architects or teams of architects - three winners, a special mention and seven mentions.

For the last 15 years, Lafarge has been developing an active partnership with the world of architecture and a close collaboration with creators using its materials. Lafarge works closely with architects, specifiers and users of its materials. These partnerships translate into support for young architects, participation in events relating to architecture and construction, promotion of books on architectural works, and sharing of its expertise and scientific and technical knowledge in the science of building materials.

Lafarge has been based in China since 1994, and now has more than 30 sites for its three businesses: cement, gypsum, and aggregates and concrete. The group now has nearly 13,000 employees in the country, which accounts for half of global demand for cement. With 24.3 million tons of cement capacity at the end of 2009, China is now one of the most important geographical areas for the group.